Yuba City pays man not to file any disability suits

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From the Sacramento Bee:
George Louie is a West Sacramento man who has sued hundreds of Northern California cities and businesses for failing to comply with the federal Americans with Disability Act.

(snip)

Louie’s lawsuits targeting local governments and small-business owners have usually ended in out-of-court settlements in his favor, because the cases are expensive to fight, said Cris Vaughan, a Loomis attorney who has defended dozens of clients against Louie’s lawsuits.

Critics have called the suits “frivolous,” alleging that they are motivated by financial gain.

“The going rate is $4,000 a case (to settle). These are extortion lawsuits,” said Yuba City property manager Bill Meagher, who had two tenants sued by Louie.
That, sadly, is a sign of our modern times.
 
The United States had truly become a society of litigation.
And people say that I’m paranoid whenever I tell them about the people who love abusing litigation for personal gain.
 
ADA is an incredible mockery of Americans desire for justice.
 
april32010 said:
In June 2011, a Contra Costa Superior Court judge placed Louie on a state list of “vexatious litigants,” which bars him from filing lawsuits in California courts. But he is still free to file in federal court. …
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“There needs to be protections in place for businesses that allow opportunities to correct violations before litigation,” said Steven Bovarnick, a San Francisco lawyer who has successfully fought ADA cases.
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Read more here: sacbee.com/2012/10/13/4907961/yuba-city-pays-man-not-to-file.html#storylink=cpy#storylink=cpy
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Now that’s the way it should work. After all, would Louie like it if he was fired for being one minute late for work?

I was a defendant in a frivolous lawsuit involving my late uncle’s estate. Plaintiff claimed the estate owed him money, but he had no proof, and my strategy was to grind him down to the point where his lawyer would have more time invested than his fee would justify. I think that the victims of these lawsuits, especially the cities that have lawyers on staff, should do the same.

If he does file in federal court, can the defendant introduce the “vexatious litigant” decision to expose the extortion for what it is?
 
There is something to be said for making the losers pay the legal fees of the winners in some of these cases. I’m involved in a “situation” with a person I sold a car to. Her claim is baseless and easily defeated, but I’ve offered her a settlement because the cost of defending myself …to include taking time of work if it went to court…is worth the small amount I’ve offered her to just go away. I HATE doing this…but it would cost me almost twice what I offered to defend the case. There is something wrong with the system.
 
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